New smartphones

Finding and comparing a new mobile phone is what we specialise in. We started doing that back in 2002 and we have no intention of stopping.

MWC and IFA

While a new phone used to come out almost every week, those times are a bit behind us. Manufacturers keep an annual update schedule for their most popular series. The exception is Sony, which keeps a six-monthly update schedule.

Many new mobiles come out around two trade shows; MWC and IFA. These big tech fairs, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin respectively, are used by many manufacturers to make important unveilings. Some manufacturers very cleverly launch their products a week earlier or later to get enough attention and not get snowed under in all the product announcements.

In the past, many phones were also announced around the CES in Las Vegas but because the MWC follows it relatively closely, manufacturers have stopped doing so.

Unpacked

Samsung is one such player that often organises its own events. These are called Unpacked and in recent years they often take place in New York and can be followed live over the internet. For journalists, such an Unpacked Event is always a special event because Samsung is not afraid to try out new things. Then we don't just mean the products but also the show around it.

Keynote

Of all manufacturers, Apple is the odd one out. It never shows up at a trade show, even ignoring the telecoms fair MWC. Instead, it organises its own event called Keynotes. This involves inviting a select group of journalists. Media that mainly write about Apple rumours or report somewhat critically need not count on an invitation.

What's neat about Apple's iPhone launches is that they are available fairly quickly after announcement. With other manufacturers, this sometimes takes months.